Water sport towing apparatus misting system

ABSTRACT

A misting system is combined with a water sport towing apparatus, such as a wakeboard tower. The water sport towing apparatus&#39;s frame comprises a misting system providing the vessels occupants a benefit of misting combined with the tower in design and function. A vapor of water molecules is showered from the water sport towing apparatus that is directed at filling the vessels cabin thereby contributing to a cooler environment for the vessel occupants.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This utility patent application claims the benefit under 35 United States Code §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/793,296 filed on Apr. 18, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Wakeboarding has been around for over a decade and is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. A wakeboard tower is used in wakeboarding to anchor the tow line at a point above the boat deck. The height of the tow line helps the person being towed in performing maneuvers that require lift. Water sports, such as wakeboarding, water skiing, and tubing, typically have one person being towed by the boat and many other occupants in the boat. As such, occupants typically spend more of their time in the boat as compared to participating in the water sport. Since these water sports are most popular during the summer months, the occupants become uncomfortable in the passenger compartment of the boat due to the heat of the summer.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to be limiting.

A misting system is integrated with a water sport towing apparatus, such as a wakeboard tower. The water sport towing apparatus's frame integrates a misting system that is directed at providing the vessels occupants a benefit of misting that is combined with the tower in design and function. A vapor of water molecules is showered from the water sport towing apparatus that is directed at filling a portion of the passenger compartment of a boat thereby contributing to a cooler environment for the vessel occupants.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a misting system integrated with a water sport towing apparatus;

FIG. 2 illustrates a misting system that is externally attached to a tower;

FIG. 3 shows a view of a misting system incorporated within the tower;

FIG. 4 illustrates a misting system in which the misting nozzles are placed along the entire length of the tower; and

FIG. 5 shows a closer view of the misting system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a misting system 100 that is integrated with a water sport towing apparatus. As illustrated, misting system 100 includes tower 102, misting nozzles 104, misting supply line 106, switch 108, and water container/pump 110.

The water sport towing apparatus (tower 102) is a characteristic on nearly every wakeboard boat, contributing to performance in the rider and the vessel itself. Tower 102 may be designed in many different configurations and take many different forms. Generally, however, the wakeboard tower is a relatively rigid structure that is designed to meet the performance requirements of towing an individual behind the boat as well as being fit to the boat. The tower 102 includes a top portion at a height that is above the level of the boat deck 114 and is adapted for attaching a tow rope 112. The tow rope is attached to the upper portion of the towing structure at point 112. The towing apparatus 100 forms a skeletal frame.

The tower 102 includes a first relatively rigid vertical support structure 116 fitted to the starboard side of the boat, a second relatively rigid vertical support structure 118 fitted to the port side, and a generally horizontal bridging portion 117 extending between upper extremities of the first and second vertically extending support structures at a desired height above the boat deck 114. As illustrated, the tower 102 includes a third relatively rigid vertical support structure 120 fitted to the starboard side of the boat and aft of the first support structure 116, a fourth relatively rigid vertical support structure 122 fitted to the port side and aft of the second support structure 118, and a generally horizontal bridging portion 126 extending between upper extremities of the third and fourth vertically extending support structures at a desired height above the boat deck 114. The first and second support structures are coupled to the third and fourth support structures using relatively rigid support pieces 124.

The misting system 100 further includes a water storage container/pump unit 10 that is used to supply pressurized water to the misting system. The water container may be located in many different positions. For example, the water container may be hidden in the boats compartment. According to one embodiment, the water container includes approximately a 5 gallon capacity. The water for the misting system may also be supplied by an internal built in ballast system (not shown). Generally, a ballast system is located toward the stern of the boat and is filled with water which weights the aft portion of the boat thereby causing the boat to create a larger wake.

A “cooling” misting system is integrated with tower 102. The misting system is designed for the tower and least a portion of the tower's skeletal frame includes an integrated misting system that is directed at providing the vessels occupants a benefit of misting combined with the tower in design and function. A vapor of water molecules is showered from the misting nozzles 104 that are directed at filling a portion of the boat's passenger compartment with mist thereby contributing to a cooler environment. Misting supply line 106 is coupled to water storage container/pump 110 and is also coupled to misting nozzles 104. According to one embodiment, a misting supply line 106 that is separate from the wakeboard tower and is formed specifically for each brand of wakeboard tower. The misting supply line may be included within the wakeboard tower and/or it may be attached to the outside of the wakeboard tower. The supply line may be made of a flexible material and/or rigid, semi-rigid material.

A pressure pump 110 supplies the pressure to create the mist from the supplied water. According to one embodiment, a medium pressure pump supplies the misting line inside the tower. Consecutive misting nozzles 104 are configured to feed water at around 200-600 psi from the misting line. A switch may be located within the boat, such as near the drivers control panel that may be used for on/off operation of the misting system. The misting hardware may be located at any point in the towers structure or physically attached members. Separately attached tubing that is structured and supported by the tower may also hold the misting system.

Misting is based on a theory of thermal dynamics, forced water lines inside the structure of the tower with inward facing misting nozzles creating a fog of approximately 50 micron water droplets. These droplets flash evaporate instantly covering the vessels cabin resulting a reduced heat of up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit. This cool new refreshing environment isolates the passengers from verbose heat periods. The misting system may be used at a static position or while under cruising and towing speeds providing a fan like propulsion of the mist for even a greater cooling effect. The on/off switch 108 may be used to manually control the operation of the misting system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a misting system that is externally attached to a tower. As illustrated, misting system 200 includes misting bars 202 and 204 and tower 102.

Tower 102 includes a first misting bar 204 attached to the port side of tower 102 and a second misting bar 202 that is attached to the starboard side of tower 102. The positions of the misting bars and the positioning of misting nozzles 206 are designed such that mist 205 fills a portion of the cabin that is occupied by the occupants. More or less misting bars may be incorporated onto tower 102 depending on the desired density and mist pattern. For example, one or more misting bars may be located on the upper portion (not shown) of tower 102. The misting bars (202, 204) receive water through misting lines 106. The misting bars are attached to tower 102 using attachment structures 208. The tower 102 is designed to fit misting bars 202 and 206. According to one embodiment, the misting bars are made of semi-rigid material similar to tower 102. Tower 102 may be manufactured to include the misting bars and/or added at a later time after tower 102 is purchased. According to one embodiment, the misting bars are designed to fit a specific type and brand of misting tower. Different misting bar systems may be designed for different towers.

FIG. 3 shows a view of a misting system incorporated within the tower. As illustrated, misting system 300 includes tower 102, misting supply line 106 and misting nozzles 307. According to this embodiment, the misting line 106 and the misting nozzles 307 are located within tower 102. The misting line 106 runs in the interior of the tower. The misting nozzles 307 are positioned inside the tower with the output of the misting nozzle being flush mounted externally exiting the tower. According to this embodiment, the tower 102 is manufactured with the misting nozzles which may or may not be enabled when purchased. More or less misting nozzles may be located within tower 102. The number and positioning of the misting nozzles 307 depends on the desired misting pattern and density of the mist that is desired. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a misting system 400 in which the misting nozzles 402 are placed along the entire length of tower 102.

FIG. 5 shows a closer view of the misting system. Misting closeup 510 shows a misting supply line entering either tower 102 or a misting bar (e.g. 202, 204 in FIG. 2). The positioning of misting nozzles 502 are positioned depending on the desired misting pattern and mist density. Misting closeup 520 shows misting supply line 106 entering and exiting misting nozzle 502. As illustrated, the output 503 of misting nozzle 502 is positioned in close proximity to the interior surface of tower 102 and/or misting bars (e.g. misting bars 202, 204 illustrated in FIG. 2). Alternatively, output 503 may be positioned to extend outside of the tower and/or misting bars depending on the configuration.

The above specification, examples and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of embodiments of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. 

1. A apparatus for providing mist to a passenger compartment of a boat, comprising: a water sport towing apparatus that is configured to attach a tow rope; and a misting system that is designed for the water sport towing apparatus that is integrated with the water sport towing apparatus; wherein the misting system is configured to provide mist within a portion of the passenger compartment of the boat.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the water sport towing apparatus is a wakeboard tower.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the misting system is incorporated on an exterior of the wakeboard tower.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the misting system includes at least one misting bar that includes misting nozzles located within the misting bar and wherein each of the misting nozzles are positioned to provide a mist to the portion of the boat's passenger compartment.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the misting bar is designed for a type of wakeboard tower.
 6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the misting system is incorporated within an interior of the wakeboard tower.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the misting system includes misting nozzles located within the interior of the wakeboard tower and wherein each of the misting nozzles are positioned to provide a mist to the portion of the boat's passenger compartment.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the wakeboard tower is manufactured with the misting nozzles.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a water container that is coupled to a misting supply line that is coupled to each of the misting nozzles.
 10. A system for providing mist to a passenger compartment of a boat, comprising: a wakeboard tower that is attached to the boat and is configured to attach a tow rope; and a misting system that is designed for the wakeboard tower and that is integrated with the wakeboard tower; wherein the misting system is configured to provide mist within a portion of a boat's passenger compartment.
 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a water storage container to provide water for the misting system and a pump that is configured to pressurize the water to create the mist.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the misting system is incorporated on an exterior of the wakeboard tower.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the misting system includes misting bars that each include misting nozzles located within the misting bar and wherein each of the misting nozzles are positioned to provide the mist to the portion of the passenger compartment; wherein the misting bars are made of the same or similar material as the wakeboard tower.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the misting bars are designed for a particular brand of wakeboard tower.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the misting system is incorporated within an interior of the wakeboard tower.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the misting system includes misting nozzles located within the interior of the wakeboard tower and wherein each of the misting nozzles are positioned to provide the mist to the passenger compartment.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the wakeboard tower is manufactured with the misting nozzles.
 18. The system of claim 11, further comprising a switch that is configured to control the operation of the mist.
 19. The system of claim 11, further comprising a misting line that is connected to the water storage container.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the water storage container is a ballast system. 